Stokesia plant named ‘Mini Mels’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Stokesia plant named ‘Mini Mels’ which is characterized by the combination of a compact globular habit, small dark purple flowers with yellow centers, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Stokesia laevis.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Stokesia disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘Mini Mels’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2018/1336, filed May 18, 2018, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘Mini Mels’ is a seedling selection resulting from thecontrolled pollination of the seed parent, Stokesia laevis ‘Mels Blue’(U.S. Pat. No. 23,090), with an unnamed Stokesia laevis plant (notpatented), the pollen parent. The crossing was made by the inventor inAugust of 2015 at a commercial greenhouse in Rijsbergen, theNetherlands. In August of 2016, one seedling from said cross wasobserved which exhibited smaller, dark purple flowers. The seedling wasisolated for further evaluation in order to confirm the distinctness andstability of the characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation ofdistinctness and stability, ‘Mini Mels’ was selected forcommercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘Mini Mels’, by way ofsoftwood stem cuttings, was first performed in August of 2017 inRijsbergen, the Netherlands. Through five subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Mini Mels’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Mini Mels’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Mini Mels’ as a new and distinct Stokesia laevis cultivar:

-   -   1. Stokesia ‘Mini Mels’ exhibits a relatively compact plant        size; and    -   2. Stokesia ‘Mini Mels’ exhibits a globular plant shape; and    -   3. Stokesia ‘Mini Mels’ exhibits small, dark purple flowers        which are conspicuously centered yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary mature ‘MiniMels’, at 5 months of age, plant grown outdoors at the inventor'scommercial greenhouse in Rijsbergen, the Netherlands.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical flowers of ‘MiniMels’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in September of 2019,describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of one year old‘Mini Mels’ plants grown in 17 cm nursery containers in Rijsbergen, theNetherlands. Plants were produced outdoors with full sun exposure andmaintained using overhead irrigation at regular intervals, and werefertilized as required using a slow release fertilizer. No chemical pestcontrol measures were utilized during production.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Mini Mels’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such measurements are approximations or averages setforth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 edition.

A botanical description of ‘Mini Mels’ and comparisons with the parentsand most similar variety of common knowledge are provided below.

-   General plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—A broad, upright herbaceous perennial with            inflorescence carried within and above the foliage.        -   Plant profile.—Obovate.        -   Height.—30.5 cm to the top of the foliar plane; 34.4 cm to            the top of the floral plane.        -   Spread.—30.0 cm.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.        -   Propagation.—Method — Softwood stem cuttings. Time to            initiate rooting — Rooting is initiated in approximately 14            days when grown in a greenhouse with an ambient average            temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. Time to produce a            finished plant — Approximately 12 weeks are required to            produce a marketable finished plant in an 11 cm pot.        -   Pest resistance and susceptibility.—Not any more or less            tolerant or susceptible to pests or diseases known to effect            Stokesia.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone            6 and temperatures as high as 35 degrees Celsius; drought            tolerant once established.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Moderately freely branched and moderately dense            rooting.        -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately            deep.        -   Texture.—Non-fibrous, non-fleshy.        -   Color.—Yellow-white, nearest to a mixture of RHS 158C and            158D.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Basally branching main stem; freely            branching with lateral branches.        -   Number of main stems per plant.—30.        -   Number of lateral branches per main stem.—2.        -   Aspect of main stems and lateral branches.—Rounded.        -   Lateral branch length.—15.1 cm.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—0.4 cm.        -   Internode length.—4.3 cm.        -   Attitude.—Main stems are an average angle of 15 degrees from            vertical; stems vary from between 0 to 35 degrees from            vertical. Lateral branches are at an average angle of 20            degrees to the main stems.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Pubescence.—Densely covered with short, sericeous hairs with            an average length of 0.15 cm and colored greyed-white,            nearest to RHS 156D.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Color, juvenile.—Yellow-green, nearest RHS 146D.        -   Color, mature.—Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144B            and 146D, and occasionally suffused with greyed-orange,            nearest to RHS 177A.        -   Color at internodes.—Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS            144B and 146D.-   Foliage:    -   -   General.—Leaves are borne both basally and on stems.        -   Basal leaves.—Arrangement — Alternate. Attachment —            Petiolate. Division — Simple. Shape — Lanceolate. Dimensions            — 8.0 cm long, including petiole, and 2.1 cm wide. Attitude            — Outward and upward. Apex — Acute. Base — Long acuminate.            Margins — Entire; very slightly undulate. Texture and            luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Smooth, glabrous, and            matte. Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Very slightly            glossy. Color Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface —            Green, nearest to RHS 143A. Juvenile foliage color, abaxial            surface — Yellow-green, RHS 146B. Mature leaf color, adaxial            surface — Green, nearest to RHS 137B. Mature leaf color,            abaxial surface — Nearest to in between green, RHS 138B, and            yellow-green, RHS 147B. Venation — Type — Pinnate. Vein            color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C.            Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS            146D. Petiole — Length — 6.6 cm. Diameter — 0.2 cm. Strength            — Medium. Texture and luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces —            Smooth, glabrous, and moderately glossy. Color, adaxial            surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C, and suffused            with greyed-purple at the base, nearest to RHS 187D. Color,            abaxial surface — Yellow-green, RHS 145A, and fading lighter            towards the base, nearest to a mixture of RHS 150C and 150D;            suffused with greyed-purple at the base, nearest to RHS            187D. Stipules — None present.        -   Cauline leaves.—Quantity — Approximately 6 leaves per stem.            Arrangement — Alternate. Attachment — Sessile. Division —            Simple. Shape — Lanceolate. Dimensions — 7.8 cm long,            including petiole, and 2.1 cm wide. Attitude — Outward and            somewhat upward. Apex — Acute. Base — Long acuminate;            decurrent. Margins — Proximally serrate and becoming entire,            distally; very slightly undulate. Texture and luster,            adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Smooth, glabrous, and matte.            Luster, adaxial and abaxial surfaces — Very slightly glossy.            Color Juvenile foliage color, adaxial surface — Green,            nearest to RHS 143A. Juvenile foliage color, abaxial surface            — Yellow-green, RHS 146B. Mature leaf color, adaxial surface            — Green, nearest to RHS 137B. Mature leaf color, abaxial            surface — Nearest to in between green, RHS 138B, and            yellow-green, RHS 147B. Venation — Type — Pinnate. Vein            color, adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C.            Vein color, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS            146D. Stipules — None present.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal capitula comprised of a receptacle, disc            florets, and ray florets.        -   Natural flowering season.—Summer into autumn in Rijsbergen,            the Netherlands.        -   Flowering habit.—Very freely flowering.        -   Dimensions.—3.0 cm high, not including peduncle, and 5.1 cm            in diameter.        -   Quantity of inflorescence per plant.—150, on average;            typically 5 per lateral branch.        -   Attitude.—Upright.        -   Peduncles.—Length — Primary peduncles are 3.1 cm long on            average; lateral peduncles are 1.6 cm on average. Diameter —            Primary peduncles are 0.2 cm in diameter, on average;            lateral peduncles are 0.175 cm on average. Attitude —            Primary peduncles are upright; lateral peduncles are at an            angle of 30 degrees to the primary peduncles. Strength —            Strong. Texture — Densely pubescent; short, sericeous hairs            with an average length of 0.175 cm and colored green-white,            RHS 157D. Luster — Matte. Color — Yellow-green, nearest to            RHS 146D.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Spherical.        -   Length.—Average of 1.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—Average of 1.1 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.        -   Luster.—Matte.        -   Color.—Nearest to in between white and yellow-white, RHS            155A and 158D, and suffused with purple, RHS 76A.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower type.—Composite; capitula.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower longevity.—10 days, on average.        -   Persistence.—Persistent.        -   Disc diameter.—3.5 cm.        -   Receptacle shape.—Flattened.        -   Receptacle height.—0.3 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—0.6 cm.        -   Receptacle color.—Green-white, nearest to RHS 157A.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity of florets per capitula — 11. Shape —            Flabellate; proximal 40 percent of the floret is tubular.            Arrangement — Rotate with a single whorl of florets around            disc; florets are unfused. Attitude — Outward, with an            average angle of 25 degrees to horizontal. Aspect —            Carinate. Dimensions — 2.5 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Apex —            Lanciniate with 5 or 6 acute lobes. Base — Long, narrow            cuneate. Margin — Entire; not undulated. Texture and luster,            upper surface — Glabrous, moderately velvety and slightly            glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface — Glabrous,            moderately velvety and moderately glossy. Color, when            opening, upper surface — Violet, nearest to 86B, and fading            to white towards the base, nearest to RHS N155A. Color, when            opening, lower surface — Violet, nearest to in between RHS            86B and 86C, and fading to white towards the base, nearest            to RHS N155A. Color, when fully opened, upper surface —            Violet, nearest to 86B, and fading to white towards the            base, nearest to RHS N155A. Color, when fully opened, lower            surface — Violet, nearest to in between RHS 86B and 86C, and            fading to white towards the base, nearest to RHS N155A.            Venation, when fully opened, upper surface — No visible            venation. Venation, when fully opened, lower surface — No            visible venation. Faded color, upper surface — Violet,            nearest to RHS N87A, and fading lighter towards the base,            nearest to RHS 85A. Faded color, lower surface — Violet,            nearest to RHS N87A, and fading lighter towards the base,            nearest to RHS 85A.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity of florets per capitula — 140.            Arrangement — Radial symmetry; five whorls of florets. Shape            — Tubular; proximal 50 percent of florets are fused,            typically with 5 free apical lobes. Attitude — Upright and            outward; at an average angle of 20 degrees to horizontal.            Length — 1.7 cm. Width — 0.6 cm. Apex of the floret lobe —            Lanciniate; apical lobes are narrowly acute. Base — Fused            into a tube. Margin of the free floret lobe — Entire; not            undulated. Texture and luster, upper surface — Smooth,            glabrous and very slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface — Smooth, glabrous and moderately glossy. Color,            when opening, upper surface — Violet, nearest to RHS 86B,            and fading to white towards the base, nearest to RHS N155A.            Color, when opening, lower surface — Violet, nearest to RHS            86C, and fading to white towards the base, nearest to RHS            N155A. Color, when fully opened, upper surface — Violet,            nearest to RHS 86B, and fading to white towards the base,            nearest to RHS N155A. Color, when fully opened, lower            surface — Violet, nearest to RHS 86C, and fading to white            towards the base, nearest to RHS N155A. Faded color, upper            surface — Not fading. Faded color, lower surface — Not            fading. Venation, upper and lower surfaces — No visible            venation. Disc floret bracts — Quantity — One bract is            present at the base of each disc floret. Arrangement —            Rotate. Length — 0.8 cm. Diameter — 0.5 cm. Shape — Linear.            Apex — Narrowly acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Entire.            Texture and luster — Smooth, glabrous, and glossy. Color —            White, nearest to RHS NN155A.        -   Involucre; phyllaries.—Arrangement — Rotate; free; five            whorls around the disc with the upper whorl exhibiting            unique morphological characteristics relative to the lower            four whorls. Quantity — 40. Upper whorl of phyllaries —            Length — 0.7 cm. Width — 0.3 cm. Shape — Elliptic. Apex —            Acute. Base — Cuneate. Margin — Lacerate. Texture and            luster, upper surface — Glabrous; very slightly glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface — Glabrous; matte. Color,            fully opened, upper surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143B.            Color, fully opened, lower surface — Green, nearest to RHS            143A. Lower whorls of phyllaries — Length — 1.4 cm. Width —            0.7 cm. Shape — Ovate to elliptic. Apex — Acute. Base —            Cuneate. Margin — Lacerate. Texture and luster, upper            surface — Glabrous; very slightly glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface — Glabrous; matte. Color, fully            opened, upper surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143B. Color,            fully opened, lower surface — Green, nearest to RHS 143A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamens — Quantity — 5 per disc floret; none            present on ray florets. Anthers — Shape — Narrow oblong.            Dimensions — Approximately 0.2 cm long and 0.05 cm wide.            Color — White, nearest to RHS 155A. Filaments — Length —            1.0 cm. Color — Purple, nearest to RHS 85C. Pollen, amount —            Moderately abundant. Pollen color — White, nearest to RHS            NN155D.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil — Quantity — 1 pistil for each disc            floret; no pistils present on ray florets. Length — 1.6 cm.            Style — Length — 1.4 cm. Color — Purple, nearest to in            between RHS 85C and 85D. Stigma — Shape — Cleft; decurrent.            Diameter — 0.3 cm. Color — Purple, nearest to RHS 85D. Ovary            Color — White, nearest to RHS 155C.-   Seed and fruit: Botanical description is not yet available.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENTS

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mini Mels’ differ from its parent, Stokesialaevis ‘Mels Blue’ (U.S. Pat. No. 23,090), by the characteristicsdescribed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Mini Mels’ ‘Mels Blue’ Plant height. Shorterthan ‘Mels Blue’. Taller than ‘Mini Mels’. General coloration Darkpurple and centered Violet to violet-blue and of the flower. yellow.centered white.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mini Mels’ differ from its pollen parent, anunnamed Stokesia laevis plant (not patented), by the characteristicsdescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Mini Mels’ The pollen parent Abundance offoliage. More abundant. Less abundant. Foliage thickness. Thicker thanthe pollen Thinner than ‘Mini Mels’. parent. General coloration ofDarker green. Lighter green. mature foliage. Floriferousness. Moreflowers per plant. Fewer flowers per plant. General coloration Darkerpurple. Lighter purple. of the flower.

COMPARISONS WITH THE MOST SIMILAR VARIETY OF COMMON KNOWLEDGE

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Mini Mels’ may be distinguished from thevariety Stokesia laevis ‘Mega Mels’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/501,670) by the combination of characteristics described in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘Mini Mels’ ‘Mega Mels’ Flower size. Smaller than‘Mega Mels’. Larger than ‘Mini Mels’. Abundance of More abundant. Lessabundant. involucral bracts. Attitude of More upright. More relaxed.involucral bracts. General coloration Dark purple; con- Light purple;incon- of the flower. spicuously centered with spicuously centered witha lighter shade of yellow, a darker shade of yellow.

That which is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Stokesia plantnamed ‘Mini Mels’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.